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Brits in Italy: It may be your last chance to apply for residency as EU citizens

The Local Italy
The Local Italy - [email protected]
Brits in Italy: It may be your last chance to apply for residency as EU citizens
Photo: DepositPhotos"

If you're a British citizen living in Italy but haven't applied for Italian residency yet, you'll need to very soon.

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With Brexit Day looming, the British Embassy in Rome is urging British citizens living in Italy to make sure they have applied for Italian residency before the new Brexit date, now expected to be October 31st.

Why is it so important to make sure you have your residency paperwork in order?

The Italian government announced in December 2018 that the rights of British citizens who are already registered, or who apply to be registered before the UK officially leaves the EU, will be guaranteed to continue, including all associated rights such as the right to work.

"All Brits who live in Italy are urged to register their presence and request an "attestato/attestazione di soggiorno" (residence permit) from the anagrafe of their local commune before Brexit," campaigners from the British in Italy group tell The Local.

"Brits unable to obtain an appointment before exit day, or unable to complete their registration before exit day, should keep proof that they have attempted to register, e.g. by sending a request to their commune via PEC."

How do you apply for Italian residency?

According to British in Italy, a British citizen can currently register for residence if they are:

  • employed in Italy - and can produce a copy of the contract.
  • self-employed - and registered with the relevant professional body or Chamber of Commerce where required.
  • a student;
  • none of the above but are able to prove that they have sufficient income for themselves and their dependants to not be a burden on public funds.

"In the latter two cases, a private healthcare policy, valid in Italy for at least one year, has to be produced," writes British in Italy.

"The application must be presented with documentary evidence at the Anagrafe of one’s Comune."

Photo: DepositPhotos

"Once the paperwork has been accepted the Municipal Police will visit to verify that you are actually living at that address as your “dimora abituale” (habitual residence) and only after that stage will a “certificato di residenza” (certificate of residence) be issued."

READ ALSO: How to future-proof your life in Italy post-Brexit

"In some areas it takes several months to get an appointment. If this appointment is likely to be after 31st October you should keep proof that you have applied for an appointment before then, for example a ticket from the Comune which should show the date of booking."

"Long-term residents who only have the initial residency document (attestato/attestazione) or who hold an old-style permesso di soggiorno should request that their document be exchanged for an attestato/attestazione di soggiorno permanente."

Will any other paperwork be needed after Brexit?

The short answer is yes. Here's the latest advice from British in Italy:

"If Brexit happens, Brits resident in Italy for more than five years will need to request a long-term third-country national (TCN) residency permit; Brits resident in Italy for fewer than five years will need to request a temporary TCN permit which they will be able to convert to a long-term permit once they have met the time requirement."

"The precise procedures for requesting these permits have not yet been clarified, but in the case of a no-deal Brexit, requests will be handled by the Questura."

"The Italian no-deal contingency plans will cover all Brits officially registered as residents in Italy on exit day, currently set as October 31st."

"All British residents (who are not dual citizens) will have to register again as TCNs after Brexit, even those who already have an attestato permanente."

Not being resident in Italy on exit day does not entirely rule out gaining Italian residency in the future, but it will make things more difficult, British in Italy explains.

“Any British citizen wishing to move to Italy in the future will still have the option of applying for a TCN permit just like any other non-EU citizen."

READ ALSO: How to beat (or just survive) bureaucracy in Italy: the essential pieces of Italian paperwork

“It's just that the requirements will be the same as for "normal" TCNs, so much stricter. For example, TCNs wishing to obtain a permesso for self-employment have to enter a very strict quota system, with very few permits being granted.”

"It is still impossible to predict the future rules on movement between the UK and EU countries, or the necessity for entry visas for stays of more than three months."

All residents should also attempt to switch their British driver's licence for an Italian one before exit day.

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For more information, visit British in Italy's Facebook pagetheir general discussion group or citizenship application group.

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